By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Nov 1 — Selangor Hijrah Foundation (Hijrah) is expecting more than 1,000 new entrepreneurs to benefit from the RM15 million allocation the agency will be receiving for next year.
Its acting chief operating officer Normaiza Yahya said the initiative provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to start a business to improve their livelihood.
“Hijrah Selangor is grateful to the state government for the allocation announced and (this allocation) allows the distribution of capital easily, quickly and not burdensome to entrepreneurs,” said Normaiza when contacted yesterday.
She said the allocation was also expected to help entrepreneurs towards digitalising their business methods, especially when the country was still facing the threat of Covid-19.
Therefore, according to her, the e-kitchen 2.0 initiative as well as the e-supply of micro and small retailers will be implemented soon to also help the state’s entrepreneurs.
“We have implemented e-kitchen 1.0 and the entrepreneurs who participate in it are very satisfied and had even received something (profit) unexpected.
“Certainly with the implementation of this new initiative, it will encourage entrepreneurs to move forward,” she added.
On Friday, Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari while tabling the 2021 Selangor Budget said the state government under the Hijrah programme will channel a loan allocation of RM15 million to help entrepreneurs.
Amirudin said this was because with the loan repayment rate exceeding 70 per cent, Hijrah managed to generate revolving funds to further increase the loan amount and thus further increase the number of new entrepreneurs.
To date, Hijrah has managed to channel loans totalling RM517 million which has helped 53,958 entrepreneurs.
